Adopt a Shelter Dog Month

Let's celebrate, our love for our pets. It is their unconditional love that really helps us through our journey in life.

"Approximately 4 million cats are killed each year due mainly to overpopulation. Did you know that 25-30% of dogs in shelters and rescues are purebred? The other 70-75%, are of course loveable mixed-breed pets, just waiting for a perfect new friend." - Adoptapet.com

October is Adopt a Shelter Pet month. There are so many pets out there that do not get a chance to share a journey with a forever home, together we can change that. When you are ready to share your lives with another furry friend keep in mind the millions of pets out there without homes.

If you are not sure what kind of dog would suit your family or how to go about socializing your new friend, please call me. I would love to help you and your family share your love with another furry friend. Best Friends Pet Care offers many different options for training and socialization. Together we can embrace the love and happiness an adopted pet can bring.

Canine Good Citizen

Do you remember the big smile on your child's face when they came home from school with their first award! That genuine sense of accomplishment they felt and you felt for them. They had something to be proud of. Did you know that your dog can sense when you are proud of them, and feel just as happy when they to do something worthy of praise. Best Friends will be holding a Canine Good Citizen Practice session and test in October. Call for more information and to register. See the class schedule posted on this blog for exact times and dates.

"Many dog owners choose Canine Good Citizen training as the first step in training their dogs. The Canine Good Citizen Program lays the foundation for other activities such as obedience,agility,tracking, and performance events. As you work with your dog to teach the CGC skills, you'll discover the many benefits and joys of training your dog. Training will enhance the bond between you and your dog." -American Kennel Club

As always Best Friends will continue to offer all of our other training programs, FREE Puppy Class, Basic and Advanced Obedience training classes, Private Lessons, and Board and Train. Coming in the near future Rally!

Obesity in pets

We can only use the excuse so much that my dog or cat simply has a lot of fur, he is not overweight. That excuse does not work on a 20 lb cat, or a 15 pound Chihuahua! Just like with humans there are many different reasons behind a pets weight, not all of them can be helped. However some of them can. Our pets are a lot like kids they do not necessarily know when to stop eating, unless we show them. They are not as likely to get up and play or exercise until we do it with them, or at least give them the idea. We all love our pets and want them to be with us forever, the easiest way to make that happen is to watch their weight. Excessive
pet weight gain is very detrimental to their well being and longevity. We at Best Friends offer numerous training programs for you and your pet to join together. Even if you think you dog is smart enough and he does not need any training. NOT TRUE! You can join training programs simply for the socialization and to get out of the house and have some fun. Best Friends also offers Dog Camp. You can drop your four legged friend off with us for the day and he can run around and climb the slides with his new friends to help burn some calories. Perhaps your schedule does not work into our open hours, we also now have a Dog Park you can join. It is open 365 days a year, from 8am to dusk. A great way to let "Fido" run off some steam after dinner. There are many different websites and books out there dedicated to
pets and obesity. Just like in human medicine they all have their opinions on what to do and not to do, but they at least help point you in the right direction.

Allan & Mufasah • Obedience Routine

Mufasah • I initially met Mufasah, a Great Dane, after he knocked down a neighbor
and jumped on the animal warden. He was 10 months old and out of
control. While the family goes on vacation, he stays at Best Friends, and does Board and Train with me.
Calm obedience training work in the Canine College was just the beginning.
We practice in a quiet area with fewer distractions to bond and make
the game of obedience training fun. We then can use the tools of obedience
to guide him through areas with more distractions. Showing and
guiding him to be the best we want him to be. I am proud to say the
whole family is now able to take him for walks. Great job Mufasah!

A Word From Our Trainer

Our pets are family members. When they become additions to our ‘packs,’ they are walking into an established order. They naturally test for their place. Adults provide the food, shelter and clothing and all family members should recognize them as the leaders. The top of this hierarchy is not the most comfortable. It can be stressful. We would not let infants do whatever they might because of existing dangers, lack of experience, and knowledge. Why should our pet be allowed to determine where he/she fits in. We, as leaders, should teach him where he belongs and how to be comfortable with us. Training the pet is the owner’s responsibility to himself, his/her family, and to the order that existed before the dog arrived. Hopefully you have chosen a pet that fits most comfortably with your lifestyle.

Whatever the situation may be, from new pup or dog, to one with habits that never should have begun, obedience training is the first and most important thing to teach our dogs. Training calms most dogs and gives the owner control. “Sit, down, heel,” when you tell him and for as long as you tell him, that’s obedience. Patience and repetition is the solution.

You teach a dog something new without distractions; you perfect them with distractions. Just like anything else in life, it takes practice. Learn how to train your dog. Learn how to handle a trained dog in any situation if the dog becomes stimulated. If your dog is trained but aggressive to people or dogs, do you know what to do? Embrace a distraction; use it as a window of opportunity to teach your dog the desired reaction to a situation or stimulus.

I can train your dog in a board and train program; help your dog and/or you in private lessons. I even have a day training program.

I work with positive reinforcement, which could be food, prey (toys) or praise; or any combination that works best and provides the least stressful motivation for your dog.
Thank you,
Allan Ross, Training Director

Pflash & Tito

These are my two dogs. Pflash(German Shepherd)
works off leash on the left. With 2 dogs I think it is
easier for individual needs by keeping one on the left
& the other on the right. Tito(Chihuahua) has learned
it is safest to stay on my right. Even at home both can
usually be found following in the positions they've
learned in obedience training.
My about turns are quite unique. Pflash has learned
a left about turn & Tito, on my right, does a left 180°.
It may be difficult to explain but watch as we reverse
direction & Tito finds his route between me & Pflash
& in the opposite direction as Pflash.

Allan Ross Dog Training • Moses, Ball Drive

I start by stimulating prey drive & transfer this natural
drive into ball drive. I stimulate, then throw, then teach
it's fun to bring it back. I believe
when you control the games, you control the dog.

At first it may look as though I'm playing with Moses,
but actually I'm stimulating then using the Kong on a rope
as a motivational tool to reward and get Moses to
enthusiastically work for me.

Moses,a Portuguese Water Dog came to me at about a year old with very little training at about 3 months. I began in the Canine College working on foundation obedience. We bonded and I worked with food at first. He was a very quick learner that did not come with much baggage. It was easy to transfer play drive into ball drive. Top trainers know this is the way to produce the best working dogs in the world.

A Few Words from our Clients

Allan Ross is a wonder!! He turned an out of control, hyper
Golden Doodle into a pet therapy dog who works off leash
& my 10yr old Great Pyrenees acts like a pup when she is in
his class. I sent my vet to Allan & she thought he was the
best trainer she’d ever worked with. Allan is a marvel,
pets love & respond to him. He is our very own ‘Pet Whisperer”.
Sue R., Lincolnshire

How do you walk a 91 pound, 7 month old Great Dane puppy?
With ease after working with Allan. Allan’s ability to work with
dogs and understand the personality of each dog makes a dog
owner feel happy! Bonnie R., Buffalo Grove

Allan is fantastic. Has worked miracles with my very dominant
Shepherd mix. He is patient and caring, but demands respect from
the dogs he works with. He has taught me how to be ‘pack leader’.
Ruth S., Grayslake

“Allan is the trainer that all trainers should listen to -- He’s great!
Barbara C., Long Grove

Coming Soon...

Watch for your dog superstar on our next blog posting!